New Irradiation Threat - Plant Mutations

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New Irradiation Threat - Plant Mutations

Jun 08, 2003 15:39 PDT

 

Submitted by Sarah Segreti

 

Abstracted from the article Environmentalists Warn About Newly

Discovered Food Threat: Induced Mutation via Irradiation, from the

Nutritional Business Journal, May 10, 2001

 

A report from the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency

has

many environmental and consumer groups worried.

 

Their concern is for food products containing hybrid plants that

were

produced by induced mutation via irradiation.

 

The report claims that over 2, plant varieties are developed using

radioactive substances, such as cobalt and X-rays.

 

Some researchers suggest that mutated plants are as dangerous than

genetically modified crops because radiation affects a plant's

entire

genome.

 

Mutation via irradiation has been used on wheat, barley, oats, rice,

soybeans, string beans, navy beans, potatoes, onions, cherries,

apples,

and many other plant varieties.

 

Many groups are calling for a ban on food products containing

mutated

ingredients. The practice of induced mutation via irradiation, used

to

improve disease resistance, quality, and yield, is used on

approximately

70% of cultivated crops today.

 

If the proposed ban does go into effect, it is predicted that nearly

every product sold in supermarkets will have to be pulled from

shelves.

 

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